News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (April 6-12, 2022)

Attacks and attempted attacks

Shooting attack on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv

• On the evening of April 7, 2022, a Palestinian armed with a handgun, later identified as Raad Fathi Zidan Hazzam, 29, an operative of Fatah’s military-terrorist wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, from the Jenin refugee camp, went to a crowded bar on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv. He shot at bar patrons from point-blank range, killing two and mortally injured a third, who died in a hospital, and wounded six others, three of them seriously. He then fled the scene. Early the following morning he was located near a mosque in Jaffa, where he was shot and killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli security forces.^[2]
•  Since the attack, Israeli security forces have been operating in the Jenin region and in a number of other locations in Judea and Samaria. The forces detain Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity and seize weapons. They are also searching for relatives of the terrorist who have gone into hiding. Riots developed in a number of locations between Palestinians and the Israeli forces. There were also several exchanges of fire between the forces and Palestinians who were waiting for them in ambush. On April 12, 2022, the Jenin Battalion of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed responsibility two instances of gunfire targeting IDF soldiers operating in the Jenin area (Jenin Battalion Telegram channel, April 12, 2022).

• “Knowledgeable sources” told the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi that the PIJ’s Jenin Battalion had increased its activity after the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv as part of a general alert in the Jenin refugee camp and in preparation for Israeli action. They increased patrols lest Israeli forces enter the camp, including special forces. Senior PIJ figure Da’ud Shehab said the threat of a broader activity in the refugee camp like the one in 2002 (Operation Defensive Shield) still existed, and the organization was on alert. He warned of the consequence of such an activity would be a “declaration of war” that would influence all the “arenas.” He claimed the “resistance” [i.e., the terrorist organizations] was prepared for every eventuality (al-Quds al-Arabi, April 11, 2022). The Jenin Battalion also issued a video stating its intention to defend the city from Israeli actions. The video has scenes of Israeli security force action in Jenin (Filastin al-Yawm, April 11, 2022).

• Various other terrorist organizations, as well as the PA, also warned Israel not to escalate the situation, stating that crossing red lines in the Jenin refugee camp would lead to an “explosion on all fronts” (al-Mayadeen, April 11, 2022). The main statements were the following:
• At the weekly government meeting, PA Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh condemned Israel’s actions, from Jenin to Hebron, especially in Jerusalem, as well as the repeated “raids” of the Temple Mount compound. He said the Israeli government was escalating its aggression against the Palestinians in every location, adding that the calls of the Israeli leadership to arm the general public was incitement to escalation and a call to murder. He accused Israel of implementing a policy of shooting to kill, which served the political objectives of the government coalition.
• The Fatah movement accused Israel of escalation and warned that sooner or later Israel would pay the price. According to Fatah, Israel was responsible for the situation because it violated the rights of the Palestinians and had closed the door to a peace process which could resolve the conflict (Wafa, April 11, 2022).
• Spokesmen for the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip said they would not remain idle in the face of Israel’s actions, adding that Israel would bear the responsibility for an escalation. They declared Friday, April 15, 2022, the second Friday of Ramadan, as “the Friday of loyalty to Jenin.” They called on Gazans to go out into the streets to show their support for the Palestinians in the West Bank (al-Quds, April 11, 2022).
• Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the [Palestinian terrorist] organizations were prepared should the need arise to “intervene” to defend the Jenin refugee camp and Jerusalem. He said Israel would bear the responsibility for an escalation (Shehab, April 11, 2022).

Stabbing attack in Hebron

• On April 10, 2022, a Palestinian woman armed with a knife went to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and stabbed a Border Police fighter. Police stationed at the site shot and killed her. The Palestinian media reported she was Maha Kazem Awad al-Zaatri, 24, from Hebron (Sanad, April 10, 2022).

Stabbing attack in Ashqelon

• On the morning of April 12, 2022, an officer in the Israeli police force was stabbed at a construction site in Ashqelon. He was on duty at the time and examining a Palestinian at the site who had roused his suspicions. During the security check the Palestinian took out a knife and stabbed the policeman, who shot and killed him. The terrorist was a resident of Hebron and about 40 years old (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, April 12, 2022).
• The Palestinian media reported the Palestinian was Abdallah Taysir Srour, 40, from Hebron. He was reportedly employed as a worker in Israel (Shafa News, April 12, 2022). The Palestinian report did not mention he had stabbed an Israeli policeman.

    
Right: The knife used in the attack (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, April 12, 2022). Left: Terrorist Abdallah Srour (Shafa News, April 12, 2022)

Hezbollah leader relates to the events

• Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech in which he talked about the terrorist attacks in Israel. He said his organization absolutely supported the Palestinian people and their actions. He said Hezbollah was the Palestinian people’s partners in the battle and in creating the “victory.” Regarding the position of the Arab states on the attacks, he said they were fooling themselves if they thought their position would lead young Palestinians to retreat (al-Mayadeen, April 11, 2022).

Palestinians killed in confrontations with Israeli security forces

• Before midnight on April 10, 2022, a young Palestinian was shot and killed while rioting against Israeli security forces in al-Khader, near Bethlehem. The Palestinian media reported he was Muhammad Ali Ghanim, 21, from al-Khader, a released prisoner (Wafa, April 10, 2022). He was given a military-type funeral. His body was wrapped for burial in a Palestinian flag and carried by Palestinian security force operatives (Wafa Facebook page, April 11, 2022).
• Muneir al-Jaghob, in charge of propaganda for Fatah’s bureau of mobilization and organization, issued a mourning notice from the Fatah branch in Bethlehem (below). It featured pictures of Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas as well as pictures of Ghanim (Muneir al-Jaghob’s Twitter account, April 11, 2022).

  
Right: Fatah’s mourning notice. Left: Ghanim waves a Fatah flag
(Muneir al-Jaghob’s Twitter account, April 11, 2022)

• On April 10, 2022, a Palestinian woman ran towards Israeli security force near Husan in Gush Etzion, arousing their suspicions. The forces implemented procedure for detaining a suspect, including firing their guns into the air. The woman kept running towards them and they shot at her legs, wounding her. She received first aid at the site of the incident and was taken to a hospital. A search revealed she had not been armed (IDF spokesman, April 10, 2022).
• The ministry of health in Ramallah reported the death of Ghada Ibrahim Sabatreen, 45, from Husan, a widow with six children. According to reports, she had lived in Jordan and after her husband died a year ago she returned to Husan, where she grew up (al-Quds, April 11, 2022). Reportedly, she died of blood loss. The Palestinian media described her death as an “execution,” claiming she had been killed without endangering the soldiers.
• PA government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem, acting for Muhammad Shtayyeh, issued a condemnation of her death, saying Israel was responsible. He said it had been an act of “organized governmental terrorism” which the international human rights organizations had to condemn and put a stop to (Ibrahim Melhem’s Twitter account, April 10, 2022). Muhammad Shtayyeh also mentioned her death at the weekly government meeting, where the government decided to take responsibility for raising her children, who would be turned over to the ministry of religious affairs (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, April 11, 2022).
• Following her death (and the death of the man who took a weapon from a woman soldier and who later turned out to be Jewish), the PA foreign ministry said the incidents reflected “fascism and racism” and incitement for indiscriminate killing of Palestinians. According to the ministry, it showed how Israel considered every Palestinian a target that could be unjustly shot at, even if the Palestinian did not present a danger to IDF soldiers. Her death, complained the ministry, had not been condemned in Israel and was not being investigated. The ministry called on the international community not only to condemn Israel but to impose sanctions and deter it [from further such incidents]. In its appeal to the International Criminal Court the ministry asked the Court to end its silence and investigate [Israel’s alleged] crimes (PA foreign ministry website, April 11, 2022).

Counterterrorism activities

• On April 10, 2022, an IDF force in the Jenin area saw a bag being thrown out of a vehicle. The bag held an improvised Carlo machinegun which was transferred to the Israeli security forces for examination (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, April 10, 2022).
• On April 6, 2022, the Israeli security forces detained a Palestinian suspected of engaging in terrorist activities in the Jenin refugee camp. A pipe bomb was found hidden in a motor scooter near his house. He was taken for interrogation (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, April 6, 2022).

    
Right: Machinegun seized by the Israeli security forces (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, April 6, 2022). Left: The IED found in a bag (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, April 10, 2022)

• On April 6, 2022, three Palestinians who went to the Old City of Jerusalem underwent a security check by Border Police fighters stationed at the site. One of them had a knife, which fell on the ground. The Palestinians were from Nablus and had arrived without permits to enter Israel. They were detained and taken for interrogation (Israel Police Force spokesman’s unit, April 6, 2022).

• The Israeli security forces prevented weapons from being smuggled through the Jordan Valley. The weapons seized included 19 handguns, three Kalashnikov assault rifles, two M-16 assault rifles, one shotgun and four ammunition magazines (IDF spokesman, April 6, 2022).

Joseph’s Tomb vandalized

• On the night of April 9, 2022, dozens of Palestinians broke into the compound of Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus. They rioted, set fire to rooms, vandalized property and tombs and the tombstone on Joseph’s grave, and caused a significant amount of damage. The Palestinian media reported the event as a “parade of Palestinians” which began in the center of Balata Rafah Crossing [east of Nablus] to protest the IDF activity in Jenin. The Palestinians reached the Tomb and began rioting. According to the Palestinian media, a force of Palestinian police arrived and dispersed them. The following day as well, Palestinians entered the compound intending to vandalize it (Safa, April 11, 2022).

    
Damage done by Palestinian vandals (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, April 10, 2022)

• Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz condemned the vandalization of Joseph’s Tomb and sent a strong message to the PA. He said Israel would repair the damage, quickly restore the Tomb to its status quo ante and make certain such an event did not repeat itself (Benny Gantz’s Twitter account, April 10, 2022). Nablus governor Ibrahim Ramadan said in response that Joseph’s Tomb was the responsibility of the PA and registered as a Muslim religious site with the ministry of endowments. The PA, he said, would repair it and not allow any foreign agency to intervene in its restoration (Ibrahim Ramadan’s Facebook page, April 10, 2022).
• On April 11, 2022, two Orthodox Jews attempted to enter Joseph’s Tomb without previously coordinating with the IDF. Palestinians shot at them as they drove on the road near the Balata refugee camp which led to the Tomb compound, seriously wounding them. They were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment (Rescue Without Borders in Judea and Samaria, April 11, 2022).

Rocks, Molotov cocktails and other events

• In Judea and Samaria Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads (For further information, see the Appendix).

Significant Terrorist Attacks in Judea and Samaria since January 2020^[3]

Ramadan events

• On the eve of the Muslim religious month of Ramadan Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz issued a series of measures for the Palestinians, including putting no limit on entering al-Aqsa mosque for women, children under the age of 12 and men over the age of 50. He also authorized visits to blood relatives inside Israel for residents of Judea and Samaria and lengthened working hours for the crossings. Immediately after the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv on April 7, 2022, Israel restricted the activity of residents of the Jenin District, including preventing them from going to al-Aqsa mosque to pray. Measures were not changed for residents living in other areas of Judea and Samaria.
• The Palestinian media give particular coverage to the mass prayers held in the Temple Mount compound, the festive atmosphere and the lively commerce in the markets of the Old City of Jerusalem (Palinfo Twitter account, April 5, 2022; Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, April 8, 2022). On Friday, April 8, 2022, the first Friday prayer of Ramadan was held. The previous day calls were heard for Muslim worshippers to come en masse to pray at al-Aqsa mosque, and an estimated 80,000 arrived (relatively fewer than in previous years). Most of them were from east Jerusalem or were Israeli Arabs. Some gathered and chanted praise for the attack in Tel Aviv and support for Hamas’ military-terrorist wing and its commander, Muhammad Deif.

   
Right: The evening prayer on the Temple Mount (Palinfo Twitter account, April 5, 2022). Left: The first Ramadan Friday prayer (Twitter account of journalist Hassan Aslih, April 8, 2022)

• The area near the Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem is a focal point for clashes between young Palestinians and the Israeli security forces, and every evening Palestinians gather there, but as opposed to last year, in recent days the tension and violence have lessened.

Palestinians threaten Jews not to plan to sacrifice the Paschal lamb on the Temple Mount

• Palestinians have warned Jews not to plan to sacrifice the Paschal lamb on the Temple Mount, which they refer to as “playing with fire” and “crossing red lines.” The Palestinians said that provoking the sensibilities of Arabs and Muslims would mean the “beginning of black days for Israel” (al-Jazeera, April 12, 2022). “Sources” told Hezbollah-affiliated al-Mayadeen the Palestinian [terrorist] organizations had sent Egypt the message that [Jewish] religious ceremonies at al-Aqsa mosque, including sacrificing the Paschal lamb, crossed red lines (al-Mayadeen, April 11, 2022).
• The Palestinian social networks posted an illustration about the intention of Israeli activists to slaughter the Paschal lamb near the Temple Mount compound. The illustration explains the significance of Passover, the date of the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb, the ceremonies celebrated during the holiday, feasting on the Paschal lamb and warning of the intention of activists from the Temple Institute^[4] to invade the Temple Mount compound to sacrifice the Paschal lamb.

   
Right: The illustration appearing in the Palestinian social networks. Left: The warning notice (al-Jazeera, April 11, 2022)

Rocket and mortar shell fire into Israel

• This past week no rocket or mortar shell hits were identified in Israeli territory.

Monthly Distribution of Rocket and Mortar Shell Fire since January 2020

Annual Distribution of Rocket Hits

Isma’il Haniyeh speaks with the UN envoy to the Middle East

• Isma’il Haniyeh spoke with Tor Wennesland, the UN envoy to the Middle East peace process. They discussed the Palestinian cause and recent developments, and Haniyeh updated Wennesland on Israel’s recent activity, calling it a provocation of Muslim sensibilities during Ramadan. Hamas claimed Wennesland had praised his relations with Hamas, which he described as “constructive and strategic” (Hamas website, April 6, 2022).

Tension between Hamas and Egypt

• The Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar reported that according to “Palestinian sources” tension had risen between Egypt and Hamas, allegedly because of Egyptian pressure. One example was Egypt’s raising taxes on goods imported into the Gaza Strip. Another was Egypt’s rejection of a request from a delegation of senior Hamas figures to leave the Gaza Strip through Egypt, forcing the delegation to return to Gaza. One of the “sources” said Egypt’s objective was to prevent the Gaza Strip from participating in a possible military confrontation should Israel “cross red lines in Jerusalem during Ramadan.” The “sources” said Egypt wanted to use extract a promise from Hamas not to enter a confrontation (Akhbar al-Youm, April 8, 2022).

PIJ leader interviewed

• PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah said in an interview that carrying out “activities” [i.e., terrorist attacks] in the Palestinian territories was not only a response to Israel’s action but the duty of every Palestinian. He said suicide bombing attacks were the best proof that “resistance” was the correct choice. As to the possibility of the situation’s deteriorating to the point of a general military action, he said the decision about responding from the Gaza Strip was in the hands of the “resistance” forces [i.e., the terrorist organizations]. Regarding the recent meeting of foreign ministers in the Negev and the normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab states, he claimed the Palestinians had to have the courage to say that the Arabs had abandoned them without assistance or support. He claimed the Arab states which tied their fortunes to Israel did not believe in the right of the Palestinians to “Palestine” (al-Manar, April 10, 2022).

Explosion in a PIJ post in the central Gaza Strip

• On April 5, 2022, the Palestinian media reported an explosion in a post belonging to the Jerusalem Brigades, the PIJ’s military-terrorist wing, in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Three Jerusalem Brigades operatives were wounded (Ma’an, Amad, April 5, 2022). The cause of the explosion was not reported.

Palestinian reaction to the resignation of Israeli Knesset Member Idit Silman

• In response to the resignation of Israeli Knesset member Idit Silman, the PA foreign ministry warned that chaos was about to take over the Israeli government. According to the warning, Israel’s right-wing parties could exploit the political chaos to strengthen their ideology among the public, construct settlements, destroy Palestinian structures and homes, and take control of additional areas in Jerusalem (PA foreign ministry website, April 8, 2022).

The Wafa list of Palestinians killed in recent events

• In the wake of recent events, Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, has been keeping an updated list of the names of Palestinians who are killed (Wafa, April 12, 2022). An examination of the list showed that the names of the two terrorists who carried out the shooting attacks in Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv were not included on the list. That might be because Mahmoud Abbas had condemned the attacks. The Hamas-affiliated QudsN network, which opposes the PA, published an article protesting the lack of inclusion of their names on the list of shaheeds (QudsN, April 11, 2022).

The PA continues supporting and glorifying Nasser Abu Hamid

• On April 10, 2022, Muhammad Shtayyeh, accompanied by Layla Ghanem, governor of the Ramallah Province, paid a visit to the mother of Nasser Abu Hamid^[5], and joined her for the Ramadan fast-breaking meal. Muhammad Shtayyeh praised Umm Nasser Abu Hamid for her firm stance, and as representing all the mothers of prisoners who defended Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Muhammad Shtayyeh stressed [the PA government] was doing its utmost to secure the release of the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and that the issue of the prisoners would continue to be the top priority of the Palestinian leadership (Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, April 10, 2022). At the event held to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, 2022, Muhammad Shtayyeh also stressed Umm Nasser Abu Hamid as a role mode, and his admiration for her sacrifice for the sake of the Palestinian people.

   
Muhammad Shtayyeh visits the mother of Nasser Abu Hamid
(Muhammad Shtayyeh’s Facebook page, April 10, 2022)

• Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads in Judea and Samaria. The more prominent events were the following:^[6]
  • April 11, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Bayt Ummar, north of Hebron. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.
  • April 11, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Bayt Hanina, north of Jerusalem, causing a traffic accident. Four people were injured, three of them children, and evacuated to a hospital (Magen David Adom spokesperson’s unit, April 11, yea).
  • April 11, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle west of Ramallah. One person was injured and the vehicle was damaged.
  • April 10, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus on the Husan bypass road, west of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • April 10, 2022: Rocks and a paint bottle were thrown at an Israeli bus at a junction southeast of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • April 10, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Hizma, northeast of Jerusalem; the bus was damaged.
  • April 10, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus between Ariel and Tapuah, southwest of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the bus was damaged.
  • April 10, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown at an Israeli vehicle on the Husan bypass road, west of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported.
  • April 10, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle and bus near al-Aroub and near the Halhul Junction, north of Hebron. No casualties were reported; the vehicles were damaged.
  • April 10, 2022: An IED and tires with gas balloons inside were place on the road near Deir Abu Mashal, northeast of Modi’in. No casualties were reported.
  • April 10, 2022: Three Molotov cocktails were thrown at the security road of Ofra, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported.
  • April 8, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah. An IDF force carried out procedure for dealing detaining suspects, including firing their guns, and two suspects were wounded. No Israeli casualties were reported.
  • April 6, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli bus on the Gush Etzion-Hebron road near the Halhul Junction. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • April 6, 2022: Rocks were thrown from a passing car at an Israeli vehicle near Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the vehicle was damaged.
  • April 6, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli bus carrying IDF soldiers at the Barqa Junction, northwest of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the windshield of the bus was damaged.
  • April 5, 2022: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a guard post in Birzeit, north of Ramallah. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 5, 2022: Molotov cocktails were thrown by masked Palestinians at the fence near the Eyal Crossing, east of Qalqilya. No casualties or damage were reported.
  • April 5, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus and vehicle near Barqa, northwest of Nablus. No casualties were reported; the vehicles were damaged.
  • April 5, 2022: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle south of Ma’aleh Lavona, north of Ramallah. No casualties were reported; the vehicle was damaged.